Cascade Springs

We took the kids to Cascade springs-- the place where Spencer proposed to me 11 years ago this month. It was beautiful with the leaves turning into their fall colors-- just like it was when he proposed. It brought back some fun and special memories. It was a neat experience to go back with our children and see how much we have grown and to see what we have created together as a couple and as a family.  It makes me thankful for the gospel and the perspective it has given me in my life. I am grateful to have been taught the importance of family and the blessings and joy that come from having a family. I am thankful we are on this journey together. I couldn't have picked a more loving and perfect husband and father for me and my children.  Spencer and I make a great team!! 

Park City shopping spree/Natty's 15th Birthday

For Natalies birthday my Mom, Kristi, and her friend Jessie came to Utah for the weekend.  They got here late Friday night and stayed at our house.  On Saturday they spent the day at the Park City outlets! I met up with them as soon as Spencer got home from his 28 hour shift (11am).  We shopped ALL DAY LONG and it was so much fun! We SCORED! Every store was having an awesome Labor Day sale and everything seemed to fit and be on a great deal.  Kate was an awesome shopping buddy.

  I called Spencer to see how he was holding up with the boys.  He told me they were playing "hot lava" with my new decorative pillows.  I started freaking out because the night before I told the kids they weren't allowed to use the pillows as toys.  Spencer was laughing so hard he was crying as he listened to me freak out about my pillows.  He felt like he was reliving his childhood and being a fun dad while I was shopping and I was worried about my lovely pillows!  It was pretty funny.  The best part of the story was about a week later when Spencer spilled the beans that two of the pillows he had to sew up because they tore! Apparently he dug through the whole house until he found a needle and thread. He's always so impressed with himself when he uses his suturing skills to sew something!

September 2015

We've had a good month. I am feeling better adjusted and we are getting into a good routine.  The kids are doing a great job waking up early for school and we've gotten a good after school routine in place.
This is a typical day after school:
2:55pm Out of school
3pm Home and snack time
3:30-5:00pm piano and homework (kids get their homework packets on Monday and we split it up so we are done on Tuesday--it makes our week soooo much better).
5pm Play time
6:45pm clean up and set table
7pm Spencer comes home, Dinner, scriptures, prayer and then bedtime!

Our life is much happier with a schedule.

September happenings….

Our brother-in-law is staying with us for 2 months while he works for the military.  The boys LOVE him. He comes home and plays "dead man" on the trampoline with him.  Tanner is his little buddy and follows him around everywhere he goes.  He has really sensitive skin and so Spencer was helping him out with steroids and socks!

These boys are all over Kate. They smother all day long. 

My friends Cassi, Ashley, Heidi and I have a funny joke going on. They sent me this shirt! hahaha

She is such a charmer! Seriously!

I was hyper one day and was super bored-- I still have no social life since moving here.  Because of that I have nothing to do but take pictures with my buddy-- the boys are happy I don't bother them anymore with photos!

Tanner loves taking care of Kate. He's started reading books to her.  

Spencer got his official University of Utah white coat! He was pretty excited to receive it.  It's been a wonderful long road to this point-- and sometimes you just have to get giddy that you have made it this far. Good work Dr. Miller.

 One of my favorite things about living where we do it how close we are to the canyons.  This hike was 20 minutes from our front door.  It was at the top of little cottonwood canyon and was a beautiful hike.  If you look in the background there is a Moose in the lake.  Kids thought it was amazing.  This was a 1 mile hike and the kids did awesome. I was impressed Tanner held up so well.  I think we climbed about 1,000 feet.  We hope to continue this tradition on a weekly basis this fall.

OH, and I must give props to Spencer.  He had worked a 28 hour shift and only slept for 30 minutes.  He came home from his shift and went on this hike with us.  He is such a wonderful husband and father.  He always puts our family 1st.  Love ya Spence.

Cecret Lake

Dad's 33rd Birthday! 

Dad worked hard on his birthday-- 14 hour shift. He came home to a delicious feast-- salmon, mashed potatoes, fruit, salad, homemade bread, banana cream pie and oreo pudding pie! We ate like it was Thanksgiving and then showered him with gifts! He got a trimmer from his parents, saw from my parents, a water backpack for biking/hiking and a new BYU shirt! 

We are pretty lucky to have him as our Father and Husband. He's one of a kind! He treats us so well-- is always concerned about us and would do anything for our family. We love you Spencer!

Tanner and Kate

Now that Reece and Benson are in school-- Kate and Tanner get a little more mama attention (which is probably a good thing).  I decided Kate and Tanner needed another photo shoot (because I clearly don't have enough pictures of them)!!! I'm so happy to have these two at home with me. They are little pals and easy to be around. 

Kate 10 Months

Kate-9 months

We had soooo much fun taking some pictures while the boys were at school.  She was digging the camera!  I love seeing her personality in these photos.  She's sweet, calm, and charming.  She loves to eat her hair bows and can hold a straight face for a LONG time-- unless her brothers are around and then she always laughs.  She is getting 4 teeth all at once and is still nursing like a champ. She finally likes to roll around the floor and is getting good at the bum scotch.  We LOVE you Miss Kate!

Happy 31st Birthday Juliann

Happy Birthday to me!

We celebrated my birthday in Boise on the lake! For my birthday all I wanted was some money to buy some new decorations for our home and Costcos giant Chocolate Cake! I look forward to the cake all year long.  It's a 7 pound cake that cost $16.00 and it's worth every penny and fat chunk added to my hips! I seriously dream about this cake-- it's divine! We saved the cake for when we got home from Canada and enjoyed it all week long-- to be honest I was a little sick from eating it-- self control is not an option around this cake.

 College day at school! Most people around here are avid Utah fans (crazy). My kids wanted to wear as much BYU gear as possible! Reece got in the car and said, "Mom, you wouldn't believe how many Ute fans in my classroom".  Benson said the same thing-- they were shocked! It was funny listening to their conversation.

Isn't so cute-- its exhausting being this adorable.  She is so loved by her family that sometimes she has to crash! And do you LOVE my yellow chair? I saw it at IKEA and fell in love. I think it adds some charm to my living room (i'm sure I'll find it ugly in 10 years but for now it's so fun!).

1st Day of School

The 1st day of school came early this year.  We came home from our trip to Canada and started school 3 days later.  It was a tough adjustment switching our schedules because we had been staying up super late and sleeping in all summer (like until 9:30am).  School started at 8:15am which was an entire hour earlier from Minnesota.  I was surprised and impressed to see the boys wake up and get ready quickly for school.  They were excited and didn't seem nervous at all-- until I dropped them off at school.  I think I was more nervous then they were.  I was holding back the tears-- but failed in my attempt.  I took each of them to their lines outside their classroom and then waited by the front door for them to walk with their class down the red carpet into the school (watching them walk down the carpet with fun music made me lose it!! I was seriously bawling and it was embarrassing!).

Saying good-bye was hard. They didn't know anyone in the school and had only met their teachers once.  I prayed for them the entire day-- and luckily our prayers were answered.  They came home from school telling me all about how awesome their classroom and teachers are! Whew! I was happy to have them home.

2 days before school started Benson and I met with the school nurse, his teacher and the principal.  We came up with our plan for checking BG's.  I was impressed with Benson because the first day of school he rocked it! He wasn't scared at all and went to the office, checked his blood sugar by himself, and then went back to class.  For lunchtime he beat the nurse and had his BG checked before she got to his classroom!

A day before school started we had "Popsicles and Panthers".  We met our teachers (again) and became more familiar with the classrooms.  We felt like our prayers were answered because they both have awesome teachers.  They match each child's personality really well.  We are looking forward to a great year!

 After we took the kids to school Tanner and Kate had a bath together.  Kate liked looking at herself in the mirror and putting her face in the water. She was hilarious! Tanner was happy to be the older sibling for once.  We put Kate's hair in a ponytail and I was giddy! So fun! And then I was seriously exhausted. LIke SUPER exhausted.  I put the kids to bed and took a LONG nap.  Tanner apparently didn't sleep.  He went poop and after attempting to have me whip his bum he realized I was asleep and decided to play on the floor with his pants off! He had just a little to much fun and feel asleep-- butt naked! When I woke up and saw him laying on the floor I laughed soooo hard! It was a classic moment in our home! The 2nd day of school I took a much needed Costco run.  It was the most I have ever spent at Costco. I filled the ENTIRE cart.  That's what happens when you move and wait 2 months before doing a real grocery dump.  My family was happy to have some food in the house!